LEICA Q2 Review by Ken Rockwell

LEICA Q2 Review by Ken Rockwell

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[jamiewindsor]

I own an iPhone 11 Pro Max and a Leica Q2. I can’t say I agree in any way with the comparison here. The iPhone’s colours are unreal and over saturated whereas the Leica’s colours are the best of any digital camera I’ve ever used. In my opinion, it has a similar rendition to that of medium format film like Portra 400. It also only blows highlights if you shoot in JPEG. DNG files have impressive abilities to recover the highlights.

I do like Canon colours a lot too, but there are some situations where Canons just don’t do well (neon lights for example). I have not found a single lighting situation where the Leica falls down.

But I suppose colours are just all down to taste.

[Calidastas]

I tried to get into photography several times but kept giving up when my results weren't what I was hoping for. I bought a Q2 so that the guilt from the price would force me to learn. I ended up loving this thing. I didn't realize that my problem was that the cameras I've purchased before were just a pain to use. It isn't fun using shifting through menus and sorting through all the BS. I'm nearly 2000 photos into the Q2 and I'm fully in. It's a joy to use and the results are unreal (now that I've learned what I'm doing ;) ).

[mitfreundlichengrussen]

Finally, a decent explanation of why I never sold any shots. Thank you.

[MrK]

Man, I wanted the Q2, but I had about 3596 reasons for why I went with the X100v.

Thanks, Ken. Keep up the good work!

[jkb]

“Leicas aren’t so much about a great picture, they’re mostly about having a great lifestyle!”

Made me spit out my 20 dollar latte with that one!

[korewest]

Thanks Ken, this helped me pull the trigger on the X100V

[JohannesLabusch]

Ferdinand Schnautzenhobel here, I'm writing to you from Wetzlar. We here at Leica are well aware that the colors suck. We would like to announce that we have addressed this issue and completely fixed it. Meet the Q2 monochrom. For a few hundred bucks more, you'll get a camera that will NEVER have you complaining about its color science. That's a Leica promise.

[robertopagliari]

Are you going to make a video about the desiderata Leica M11?

[mrcondorazo]

hello.. excellent video, I learned a lot with your advice.. one question.. I'm configuring the leica q2 camera for black and white photos.. and in JPG.. automatic iso and automatic speed, because when I take a photo, , do I see three? in different iso.?

[JezUK]

I used to read your reviews around 10 years ago - stumbled on your YouTube channel and bam, your delivery and humour is very entertaining. I sold all my Nikon D700 gear around 6 years ago and 'think' this Q2 could be the camera for me. Expensive? Of course. But I'm worth it :)

[edjarrett]

I started my photo passion with a Kodak Retina at age 14. It was manual, fstop, speed, and range—you had to do it all without a built in light meter. Since that time I’ve yearned for the same in a digital camera, and it’s been decades in the making. This camera seems to be the one I’ve been searching for. Having a durable and endearing camera today is a godsend. This camera is on order, but more importantly is that this will be something like the Retina, solid, exceptional and enduring.

[leafsfan]

Hi Ken, great video. Thank you! I have the Fuji X100V and find the AF and the noise of the cropped sensor to be horrible. Would you consider this a big upgrade to that? I just want a good travel and everyday camera to document my family’s life

[GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Shoot in RAW you will see much more resolution at higher ISO.

[stefanmusic]

Hi. What about long exposure at high ISO? For $5000 it can’t do this - right? I’ve heard that Leica has put limitations on this camera. How do you get around this? What about the noise reduction that cannot be disabled - even in raw. Is that acceptable for a $5000 camera? I wanted to get one but these two issues are significant don’t you think ?

[gerryphilpott]

Thanks for this very thorough review. For those coming in now, they upgraded the firmware spring '22 in both the Q2 and Q2 Monochrom - they added 'highlight metering' which takes care of some of the blown out highlights, and while I don't really shoot much in JPG, they have improved the BW and colors you get out of camera, and they have improved its AF performance. I love mine and have very few gripes about it. The menu system and simple operations make this a no brainer. I like my Nikon Z system for other purposes, and I had to return the Fuji system as it was just too many options to deal with. Perfect for many people but I'm trying to reduce my decision making when I'm out enjoying photography.

[dheevesh]

I own a Sony A7III, Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8, Zeiss Loxia 35mm f2 and a Fujifilm X100F. I am a hobbyist, not a professional. I most shoot street photography, photojournalistic portraits and travel photography. I also take family pictures. I tend to use the Fuji X100F more than anything else (because of it’s convenient size and great looking JPEGS). But now, I’m wondering - should I trade all my gear in for a Leica Q2?

[EDHBlvd]

Ken “battery doors are for losers” Rockwell.

[yktube]

Your videos are improving exponentially ! - Plus your humor keeps things 'light' and very interesting (even when reading the tech specs)... Keep it up !📸

[channelkerr]

Totally agree with you about cameras with too many functions/menus. I have a Fuji that I love but man it's sometimes too smart for its own good, or takes me 20min to remember all the settings each time I go on holiday. It's very complicated. I hope we see more cameras with dials where you can see exactly what you've set before even turning it on! Keep up the awesome vids!

[calokid]

I have a friend who posts Q2 photos and I always stop scrolling when I see them...even though the subject matter is nothing special, the image quality and character is unique and engaging in a way I can't explain, except that it reminds me of medium format.